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Keywords embody concepts that unlock the doors to knowledge. They reduce an idea to a single word and are universal to all languages. In metaphysics, keywords are used to represent symbols and embody specific principles. When you learn palmistry, astrology, numerology, tarot, or any occult language for that matter, it’s important to have a set of key words to guide you. Whether you’re optimizing a search engine, exploring science, observing art, playing music, designing your home, or examining human nature, the key to keywords is in their collective recognition and interpretation.

My metaphysical teachers always provided me with a list of key words at the beginning of my journey into a particular discipline. When I began studying astrology (over 35 years ago), I learned that our solar system was the basis for constructing a horoscope. To an astrologer, planets are basic archetypes of nature and also keywords for specific energies, ideologies, and potentialities. As Apollo drives the chariot of the sun across the sky each day, he sheds light on all things. Sun is a patriarchal archetype that symbolizes spirit and consciousness. Moon is matriarchal and represents emotion and the unconscious. Mercury communicates. Venus senses. Mars energizes. Jupiter expands. Saturn contracts. Uranus revolutionizes. Neptune imagines. Pluto transforms. This is extremely superficial, but you get the point. Planets are one of four basic elements required to interpret a natal horoscope. Astrological signs are adjectives that describe the basic qualities and energies of planets. Houses in a horoscope represent the areas of life in which planets and signs reside. Aspects are the relationships between planets, signs, and houses that challenge, enhance, and impel a person or circumstance. Humanity consists of masses of harmonious and contradictory computations, permutations, and probabilities rotating and revolving through time and space. We’re one big dysfunctional family, mainly because in our individual consciousness, all of time and space revolves around each of us.

It’s impossible to define human nature with keywords, and yet keywords are absolutely necessary to understanding human nature. One challenge in relying on keywords in palmistry is that a majority of palmistry books are obsolete cookbooks and notoriously confusing, full of stale ingredients and unreliable recipes passed down for generations. Inaccurate information and inadequate illustrations are cloaked in esoteric and technical jargon.

Palmistry keywords are not meant to define human nature, but instead, to evoke images, ideas, and feelings that give us insight into our selves and others. That being said, l will attempt to generalize all of the literature of western palmistry using keywords in my next blog entry. I’ll tie them to past blog entries wherever possible so that they can be viewed in the context of the gestalt of palmistry. If you want to learn how to read hands, you can print out the list of keywords in my next entry and consult it as you observe and examine hands.

Keywords in palmistry are derived from the basic formations and qualities of hands.

1. Always consider the dominant archetype. Remember that every detail is capable of modifying the whole and all other details at the same time. The basic shape and proportions of hands is the place to start. Finger lengths are crucial to understanding motivation. Shapes of fingertips flavor the thinking of the type. The development (or not) of knots modifies that flavor. No matter what else is happening, the color, consistency, elasticity, and flexibility of hands in general are critical to understanding a person’s energy, natural resistance to life’s knocks, and adaptability. Without a healthy thumb, it’s hard to have a healthy life because will power or logic can be excessive or deficient. Reading hands is satisfying when hand qualities are consistent, which they usually are.

2. There are relatively few pure types. Pure types tend to be extreme. They can be taxing to be around. Fortunately, most of us are mutts. Once you recognize a dominant archetype, look for a secondary type, which modifies the motivation and behavior of the pure type. With a dominant middle finger and secondary index finger, forget about middle finger melancholy. This person is a disciplined ambitious leader in their chosen career. If the index finger is dominant and middle finger secondary, a person’s powerful ambition may be tempered or hindered by a lot of structure, discipline, and pragmatism. If the middle finger is dominant and the ring finger is secondary, forget about being a loner. This person is gregarious and much better at selling himself than the pure dominant middle fingered person. If the ring finger leans toward the middle finger, you may have a great craftsman or an overly responsible perfectionist. Your dialogue with the person will help you to understand how these qualities manifest in each individual. If a pinkie finger is secondary, that increases shrewdness, adaptability, spontaneity, and a person’s sixth sense. On the dark side, he could be the master criminal who can pick your pocket and rob your life savings at the same time. Some people are harder to judge, as you will see when I begin to share fascinating stories of family, friends, clients, and celebrities.

Clients say, “I’m not creative.” “I don’t have a creative bone in my body.” “I couldn’t draw a straight line if my life depended on it.” They think being creative is being artistic. Some ask, “How can I be more creative?” I encourage them to use their imagination, be original, think critically, and view creativity not as a destination or goal, but as an innate birthright.

People agree that creativity is a good thing to have, though few can effectively define it. Scientists try to measure our C.Q.s along with our I.Q.s. Neurologists designate the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex of our brain as the location for creativity. Creativity and hands are inextricably linked. Hands may be a small body part, but they occupy a large space in our cerebral cortex. As we solve problems, our hands carry out the messages of our minds, do the work, and topographically map our motivations, character, behavior, values, thinking, feelings, will power, health, relationships, philosophy, purpose, hopes, wishes, fears, and spirituality.

Creativity is like the bastard prodigal child of great joy and intense suffering. Researchers agree that creativity thrives in extremes and opposites. It can sprout in brilliant light or total darkness, blossom in absolute good or darkest evil, and flourish in razor sharp focus or complete distraction. Western mythology links creativity, sex, death, and transformation. Like us, creativity is born, procreates, and dies.

Creativity produces art and music that pulls our heartstrings, ignites our spirits, inspires us, and fills us with joy, passion, and desire. Creativity within science has enabled us to have a very high standard of living by heating our homes and allowing us to travel and communicate freely. Creativity triumphs over any and all obstacles. When our creative juices are flowing, we can embrace our creative process, take creative license, and do anything but steal someone else’s creative work. When our work is done, we’ve got recreation.

Let’s explore the dark side of creativity. Creativity manifests darkly in many ways. We avoid what we know is right by compartmentalizing, analyzing, and rationalizing unhealthy thoughts and feelings. Temptation germinates the seeds of shameful secrets that nourish guilt, rob honesty, compromise integrity, and tarnish nobility. Fear debilitates, sabotages, and betrays. It takes creativity and a good memory to juggle promises, lies, and excuses. Some symptoms of dark creativity are: “I may have not told the whole truth, but I didn’t lie.” “I didn’t mean to tell.” “I never intended to hurt anyone.” “The temptation was too strong.” “I’m sorry for my part.”

In order for creativity to manifest, a symbolic death must take place. Letting go, no matter how painful, creates space for new choices, actions, and circumstances. I know about death and creativity. Pluto rules my horoscope. Pluto, Scorpio, and the eighth house symbolize transformation in astrology. Catastrophic business and personal losses forced me to rethink, restructure, and recreate my life several times. Pluto is master of the ‘little death’ (sexual orgasm). Pluto also welcomes us as executioner, coroner, and mortician at our final exit. Lord Voldemort, Darth Vader, Mummy, and the Big Bad Wolf are modern Plutonian types.

Reading hands is more about quality than quantity. We can’t see the extent of creativity in our hands, but we can see the qualities of creativity. Creative orientation can be observed in the shapes and proportions of our hands. Our desire to create is revealed by the conditions and qualities of our thumb and index finger. Ways we structure and communicate our creativity can be seen in the middle and pinkie fingers. How we express creativity is mirrored in the elasticity, consistency, color, texture, and flexibility of hands and fingers. Our imagination is incarnate in the qualities and directions of our head line. Our appreciation of art, music, nature, kids, food, home, etc., can be seen in the ball of thumb and ring finger.

The length of a lifeline does not determine the length of life. You will die. No one can or should tell you when. That’s God’s job. Our job, is to be personally and collectively creative in as constructive (as opposed to destructive) ways as possible. Our positive creativity is essential to our good health and the health of our world.

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” Albert Einstein

Clients ask, “Do I have a line in my hand that shows spirituality?” “Do you think I’m a spiritual person?” “How can I become more spiritual?”

I ask, “What does spirituality mean to you?”

Spirituality is subjective. Everyone agrees that spirituality is a good thing to have, though few can effectively define it. To the ancients, it meant life, not in its physical aspect, but as a universal principle that infuses, drives, and sustains existence. It was understood as an abstract energy in man that is the only reality in the midst of an ever-changing world. Hermes, western myth’s father of wisdom and communication, described spirit as the essence that permeates and the glue that connects everything. Our spiritual development is dependent on recognizing, realizing, and manifesting the spirit within us. To an eastern philosopher, spirit is universal. It’s never individualized. One person does not have one spirit and another person another. Man is a race of spiritually indivisible individuals. There are no divine spirits, human spirits, animal spirits, or plant spirits, but one spirit flowing through all divine forms. Chinese Taoists say, “As springs flow into streams, streams into rivers, and rivers into oceans, evolution is imprisoned in all things flowing through innumerable forms back to the sea of its own universality”.

In all esoteric teachings, the goal of spirituality is about raising consciousness in order to become aware of something greater, higher, and deeper than things appear to be in the moment. We reference all that is good, exalting, uplifting, and god-like in man’s nature. A feeling of reverence, devotion, attention, and a separation from all that’s low and degrading is present. Manly Hall postulates in his book, Questions and Answers: Fundamentals of the Esoteric Sciences, “All men suffer from certain reasonable doubts concerning life and truth. Spirituality is not in keeping with either the church or state. Each person is his own high priest and the obligations he makes to himself are what’s real.”

Rudolf Steiner, in his book, Knowledge of Higher Worlds and its Attainment, explains that human beings can attain spiritual enlightenment and wisdom through diligent esoteric study. The primary goal of this study is to recognize a life of truth and inner tranquility. There are six attributes that initiates strive to acquire: control of thought, control of actions, tolerance (towards persons, creatures, and circumstances), impartiality (the faith which can move mountains), equanimity (cultivation of inner balance), and perseverance.

Many people have a concept of spirituality that is colored by the exoteric and dogmatic beliefs of formalized religion. For example, you can become more spiritual by being celibate, denying materiality, or fasting. These are ideologies fostered by religious institutions in order to further their own private agendas. Modern psychologists believe that while consciously denying something, the surrounding issues become highly charged. Edward Whitmont, in The Symbolic Quest, writes, “Whatever is repressed while then lost in consciousness still does not disappear. It becomes an unconscious compulsive force, which then has primitive and potentially destructive characteristics. No wonder so many priests are sexual predators. I’ve examined hands of many violent criminals who discovered religion while incarcerated. Few were in touch with their spirituality. Knowledge without wisdom is lame, religion without spirituality is blind.

Spirituality connects anyone and everything at any time and every place. When I seek spirituality in the hands, I look for a firm handshake, pinkish elastic skin, and a full ball of the thumb that embraces life with enthusiasm and appreciation. Within the ball of thumb are lines parallel to the lifeline. These lines indicate an ability to have intimacy with others. More and longer lines reveal more and longer intimacies. William Benham (father of western palmistry) had an electric current theory of lines. He believed that current from the brain etches the lines in the hands, which in turn, reflect the qualities and directions of the person’s intentions and actions. Clear deep lines allow the current to flow freely. Frayed or islanded lines are produced by and represent interruptions and disruptions in the life force. Sometimes there is confusion at the beginning of a line and clarity over time. Many people become conscious of their struggles and thrive as they age despite challenging childhoods full of difficult obstacles.

Fingerprints also influence spirituality. People with whorl fingerprints rarely accept religious dogma and preconceived ideologies. They’re attracted to more unconventional and original philosophies. Loops are social and adaptable. You’ll find loops in all religions because a majority of people has some. Arch prints reflect more social conditioning and conventional religious beliefs. No matter what the hands say, no one is really able to comprehend the essence of another person’s spirituality until they have a dialogue with the person.

Early in my palmistry career, I was invited to attend a spiritual event for Swami Ji, a holy man, who had arrived from India to tour the United States. Many followers flocked to his northeast talk in New York to receive his wisdom and blessings. After the event, I got to spend quality time with him. It was my first experience with a guru. As I examined his hands, I was surprised by how many mundane questions he asked me about his competition, finances, and (it seemed to me) petty concerns about his immediate staff and personal comfort. We examined ways in which his outer worldly concerns challenged his inner-world.

Every person has material and spiritual concerns and questions. I wouldn’t presume to tell anyone they weren’t spiritual. Everyone is spiritual by degree. People frequently tell me how spiritual they are. I’m often surprised when I examine their hands to discover how very closed or rigid they are in their ideologies and attitudes. I won’t argue with fundamentalists about anything, but I do sprinkle seeds of spiritual thought and encourage them to sprout. Everyone must learn to weed, prune, and fertilize his or her spiritual garden.

As the human race relentlessly becomes a race against bad shit happening, a lot more people are becoming more spiritual. We grow more aware of our spirituality as we realize our impending mortality. I just look in the mirror. AIDS was a death sentence in the late 1980’s. Spirituality blossomed as people suffered and died. In the 21st century, our immune deficient environment, ailing economy, broken healthcare system, decaying infrastructure, partisan political system, fundamentalist religious ideologies, and terrorism, etc. are driving people to seek answers within themselves. No matter what anyone thinks about his or her spirituality, priceless information is waiting to be discovered at the ends of our arms.

Most parents want to be good parents. I frequently hear young parents say, “I‘m not going to make the same mistakes on my kids as my parents made on me.” While they may not make the same mistakes as their parents, they’ll make other mistakes. As my friend and fellow astrologer, Michael Lutin, jokingly quips, “It’s easy to forgive your parents after you’ve screwed up your own kids.”

Over twenty years ago, I observed hundreds of criminally insane people’s hands while working two days a week over a two-year period in the rehab department of a forensic psychiatric hospital. I was amazed how many of them were named Hope, Faith, Angel, Jesus, Grace, Joy, and Mary by dysfunctional role models who prayed that god would bless them with their child. Sadly, those parents ended up physically and emotionally abusing their kids until god’s blessings transformed into acts of violence that finally landed their children in maximum-security forensic mental hospitals for the criminally insane.

Learning to read your kid’s hands is an effective way to tailor your parenting to the individual character of each child. Knowing your child’s character will place your own needs as well as your child’s needs under a microscope. No matter what the age of your child, palmistry can help you to understand his or her real needs and concerns. You’ll learn to be more patient and tolerant by observing your child’s hands. As you realize your children’s natural potentials, talents, abilities, and challenges, you can encourage the best in them, help create a meaningful educational plan, and point them in the direction of a fulfilling career and life.

I was able to participate in the delivery of my child at birth. I pulled her from my wife’s womb and cut her umbilical cord. Joanna tells the story of how I was reading our baby’s hands before knowing what sex she was. It’s true. Her little hands could barely wrap around my index finger and they already had a story to tell. Her character was sculpted in the shape and proportions of her hands; her strengths and weaknesses, talents, goals, and dreams engraved in her palms. Those tiny hands were beautiful, but on closer inspection, I felt somewhat confused. Joanna and I have such long heart lines (romantic, sentimental, and very much able and wanting to express our feelings) and our daughter’s heart line was so short (emotionally serious, untrusting, and unable to verbalize feelings). In addition, her index finger was very short which symbolized future problems with self-esteem and spirituality. During her first two years of life, she was very cautious, fearful, untrusting, and extremely clingy. Armed with foresight, Joanna, and I nourished and encouraged her to unfold as who she wanted and needed to be. Based on our decision and commitment, along with Cassie’s tremendous will power and determination, her index finger and heart line grew longer during her formative years. Now, at twenty-one, she’s self-assured, fiercely independent, healthy, and although still an emotionally serious person, she’s able to express her true feelings.

Children’s hands change dramatically during the first five years of life. It’s no surprise that psychologists call this period the “formative years”. One of the best examples I’ve seen of changes in a child’s hands was illustrated in Andrew Fitzherbert’s book, Hand Psychology. My friend and fellow palmist, Marion Gale, gave me permission to use the above prints and copy. These are her prints of the same child. On the left, at age two, he’s an orphan, having lost both parents. Notice the curved index finger and widely spaced low set pinky finger. There’s a lot of fear and insecurity in this hand. On the right, at age seven, five years after loving relatives have taken him in and cared for him, he has a confident hand with a strong and straight index finger and a healthy pinky finger. The primary lines in his hands strengthened while unnecessary peripheral lines disappeared.

I hadn’t planned to write about fingerprints. I’m not a fingerprint expert. I observe fingerprints when I’m examining a person’s character. I look for where a person is most unconventional, original, and rebellious, by looking for whorl prints. Arch prints symbolize a person’s more conventional and practical side. Loops are the most social and adaptable of all fingerprints. Whichever fingers these glyphs adorn determine which qualities dominate corresponding aspects of personality.

Many other professional palmists rely on fingerprints much more than I do. They interpret additional information and value from the same glyphs. The following is a brief explanation from Jennifer Hirsch of the fingerprint method she uses. Jennifer is a palmist and author in Capetown, South Africa. Her contact info is at the end.

Part science, part art, the craft of five-element chirology is a dialogue therapy, comprising a blend of counselling, coaching, eastern and western palmistry, therapeutic touch, and intuition. While the readers’ intuitive senses are profoundly engaged when analyzing hands, and are inextricable from the process of a chirology consultation, five-element chirology is not a predictive or divinatory craft. As a counselling therapy, five element chirology draws on “the language of the elements” to decode and interpret the hands’ features. Chirologers (from Gr: kheri –hand and logos –knowledge) identify and codify the hands’ shapes, textures and markings to determine people’s temperament, traits, persona, emotional climate, needs, sensitivities, coping strategies, and vocational aptitudes.

Our elements earth, water, fire, air and chi embody certain principles, each with their individual signature qualities. An element is ascribed to every hand feature, so as to specifically evolve an understanding of the physical, emotional, vocational, intellectual and spiritual aspects of our lives.

Our fingerprint (and palmar) glyphs are pre-ordained, fixed and unchangeable cosmic imprints, which receive and emit their own unique resonance. They are energy portals, thresholds through which we can better understand and express our authentic responses. This article presents some interpretations of our six primary glyphs.

Arch (governed by earth) The simple arch flows across the fingertip from one side to the other, and has no *triradius*. Arches look like simple hills. Earth is solid, dependable and slow. If you have many arches you are supportive, reliable, dependable, serious mindedness and home loving.

Loop (governed by water) The loop glyph flows in and out of the same side of the fingertip. One triradius supports the loop. Loops look like a droplet of water. Water is sensitive, fluid and cohesive. If you have many loops you are adaptable, emotional, imaginative and responsive. You need to belong and to merge with a group. Loops are the most common glyph.

Tented Arch (governed by fire) The arch drapes over a centrally positioned triradius. It looks like a pole supporting a tent, or a mountain with a volcano within. Fire is energetic and restless. If you have more than one tented arch, you are enthusiastic, restless and intense. You’ll often need quiet retreats to nature.

Whorl (governed by air) Whorls look like spirals or bull’s eyes. Two triradii support each whorl. Principles of air are distance, detachment and communication. If you have many whorls, you are “the tree that stands in the desert”, independent, original and an individualist. You observe, analyse, and work best alone.

Double Loop (governed by water) Like the yin/yang, two loops intertwine, supported by a triradius on either side. If you have double loops, you may experience a lot of emotional turmoil, vacillation and inner conflict. You are a judicial thinker, and a diplomat, who dislikes bias and prejudice. You are highly sensitive and intuitive.

Peacock’s Eye (governed by water and air) A loop contains a whorl in a teardrop shaped pocket, supported by one triradius. This exquisite glyph is traditionally said to bestow good fortune on its bearer. Owners also have a discerning eye, design flair, a high degree of power of observation, and a developed sense of self-preservation.

The individual finger on which the marking manifests also has its own element rulership, which further refines the analysis, as do other forms and markings in the over-all hand.

In my book, ‘God Given Glyphs – Decoding Fingerprints – Chirology – The How-to of Hand Reading’ I have explained more about how it is that our glyphs show our psychological ‘backdrop’. Glyphs also show the environments in which we feel in harmony, which is why understanding your glyphs can be so helpful with career choice, as well as with relationship compatibility.

This powerful looking pinky finger belongs to a communicative, curious, and quick-witted individual. Dominant pinky fingered people are bottom liners. They’re quick thinkers, excellent communicators, and aware that if their presentation doesn’t add up, they won’t make the sale. Although they’re childlike and cherish their freedom, they often end up marrying someone like their mother or father. They love children and will bear any burden for family. Dominant pinkies lead the way in science, law, medicine, writing, banking, and accounting.

Hermes is the Greek god attributed to the pinky finger. Peter Pan, Puck, Knight of Swords, Court Jester, Magician, Thoth, Loki, and Mercury are all manifestations of Hermes. These clever tricksters are all fabulous communicators and archetypes of wisdom.

Your own early family dynamic may be observed in the way the pinky is set on your hands. If it’s very short or low set, trust is a major issue. Many women who have very low set pinkies have told me that they have trouble having orgasms. Their real challenge is in trusting themselves and others enough to have real intimacy. The pinky finger emphasizes technical, language, and family, in addition to sexual potentials.

The pinky finger is normally the shortest finger. To determine whether the pinky is considered long or short, look to where it lines up with the ring finger. When the tip of the pinky finger is above the crease between the first and second phalange of the ring finger, it’s considered long. When the pinky finger is shorter than that crease in the ring finger, it’s considered short. Hermes was the shortest of the gods. A dominant pinky fingered person tends to be short in stature. His or her body and face are slender, with expressive hands, dark hair, and penetrating eyes with crow’s feet in the corners. Ed Harris is a great example. Pinky fingered folk are very youthful looking with men frequently having thin beards. Johnny Depp is Hermes; also know as a Mercurial type. Most Mercurial types are androgynous and many (although they may not know or admit it) are bi-sexual. David Bowie is a perfect illustration. Michael Jackson (Peter Pan), actually lived in his very own Neverland. The pinky finger’s dominant physical sense is hearing. Pinkied people prefer small musical instruments that require a lot of dexterity. Their health issues center around the nervous and bronchial systems. They may have problems with headaches, thyroid glands, memory loss, and speech impediments. Healthy Mercurial types can be intuitive geniuses and great judges of character. Their liabilities are trickiness, fickleness, nervousness, restlessness, and superficiality. People preaching on soapboxes, most pickpockets, and a majority of con artists have dominant pinkies (most inwardly curving). Mercurial types make great lawyers, doctors, orators, writers, engineers, teachers, accountants, bankers, shopkeepers, and magicians. I work at special events with many great magicians. These amazing tricksters are Mercurial with dominant pinky fingers. They surprise and astound by deceiving the eye and mind.

Is this man telling the truth? The chirological equivalent of Pinocchio’s nose is an inwardly curving pinky finger. If your pinky finger curves inwardly, you typically hate confrontation and spend way too much of your time behaving in ways that work. You’ve spent so much of your life acting and bending the truth that you aren’t even aware you’re doing it. Most curved pinky fingered people have learned early in life that “nice” works. Their primary challenge is that “nice” relationships end up being safe instead of satisfying. Curved pinky fingered people are peacemakers. They try to fix other people and circumstances. If you’re one of these people, be yourself and not whom you think everyone else wants and needs you to be.

Gold and diamond rings are often found on the pinky finger of acquisitive people. Pinky rings can symbolize the sublimation of sexual energies in order to accomplish something requiring a lot of energy. I recently examined a group of fifty young men and women, all born into wealthy families in the 80’s. Considering the prosperity of the period, it seemed a paradox to me that every single individual had an obviously short phalange on the bottom segment of the little finger of his or her dominant hand. The bottom phalange represents the material world. Money will never be the motivation for this particular group’s career choices. Family issues and personal values will drive these individuals.

While dominant index fingered folk are the most ambitious, and middle finger types are the most serious, ring-fingered people are the happiest. The ring finger is called the sun finger, symbolized by Apollo, who hauls the sun across the sky each day in his chariot. Authentic Apollo types are handsome, brilliant, charming, graceful, artistic, and always successful on the inside. When the ring finger dominates your hand, you’re versatile, adaptable, creative, and expressive.

Being so brilliant and having so many natural talents and abilities has its downside. It’s easy to spread yourself too thin (the proverbial “jack of all trades”), or spend way too much time being concerned with outward appearances, or allow yourself to be tempted by casual attractions. Abundant energy and natural charisma makes the sun type irresistible. Although, they enjoy being married, they have very high expectations of their mates, which can lead to disappointment. If you’re an Apollo type, you’re a generally healthy type, medium height, and naturally muscular and athletic. Your dominant sense is sight. Your physical weaknesses are eyesight, circulation, and heart problems. Dominant ring fingered people are lucky. When they trust their gut and take calculated risks, they often succeed. I’ve read the hands of many gamblers with very long ring fingers. They’re biggest challenge is in knowing when to stop, as optimism and idealism cloud reality. Many successful actors, artists, designers, and sales people have dominant ring fingers.

People frequently ask, “Do you read your own hands?” or “What do you see when you look at your own hands?” I plan to answer that question, but first I want to tell a story. When I began trying to figure myself out over thirty-five years ago, one of the first things I did was to look for reputable palmists to read my hands. I managed to locate three highly regarded and dedicated professionals. The eldest (in her eighties) had been a protégé’ of William Benham, the father of western palmistry. The other two were palmistry scholars and practitioners of Benham’s teachings.

The hand pictured above is mine. The first palmist I consulted with, who became my teacher, told me my “Venus” was dominant. That meant that my large ball of the thumb, along with the very flexible first phalange of my thumb, was the distinguishing feature in my hand. The second palmist told me that I was a “Saturn” type. That meant my middle finger was dominant, as it was long and strong with a high centered apex beneath it. The third palmist told me I was a ”Mercury” type. That meant my pinky was dominant as it was long and straight, and stood independently from my hand. She was an astrologer as well as a palmist and knew I had a stellium (four planets, including my sun) in Gemini in my horoscope. I also have a ‘thinking’ hand, square palm and long fingers, which reinforced her interpretation. All three palmists gave me good readings, however, they were each only partially correct because they chose a strong secondary type as my primary type.

What I see when I look at my hands usually depends on when you ask me. I see a dominant long ring finger with a spatulate fingertip and a whorl fingerprint. Beneath the finger are a high centered apex (pictured) and a clear line of reputation. I see tremendous potential for success, satisfaction, and fulfillment. I also see challenges and obstacles.

My first giant obstacle was learning to manage my strong “Venus”. Along with my huge appreciation of art, music, nature, chocolate, and all things beautiful, came a complete lack of discipline, structure, and focus. I didn’t know how to say “No”. I also had an insatiable lust for sexual satisfaction. I had to learn to embrace and strengthen my middle finger in order to harness my ball of the thumb . It wasn’t fun and took almost twenty years of working at it to learn to exercise my will power in healthy ways. I had to stiffen the thumb on my conscious hand to a point where I could be more selfish with my ever-dwindling time and energies (the thumb on my unconscious hand is still very flexible at the first joint). My strong pinky made it easy to learn new things, but with that came immaturity and a resistance to growing up. It took me thirty-eight years to marry and forty-five years to become a parent, the two best decisions of my life.

Now, I look at my hands and see an aging Apollo who still wants to shine brilliantly, with a Mercury (pinky) who wants to help him communicate, a Venus (ball of thumb) who still has a huge desire to give, and a Saturn (middle finger) who tells him that he needs to always stay humble and continue to earn his good luck.

The middle finger is considered the balance wheel of the hand. Notice how the strong middle finger in this photo appears to magnetically draw the other fingers toward it. Less inclined to marry than other types, this individual needs a lot of personal space. He’s dependable, organized, efficient, patient, and a very loyal friend. A satirical sense of humor sometimes disguises his very serious nature. His greatest challenges result from obsessing on feelings of responsibility, obligation, and guilt. Being overly responsible and self-critical is a sure path to frustration, fear, and depression for individuals with strong middle fingers.

Dominant middle-fingered people are frequently tall, slender, and angular in appearance. Pure types have dark hair, large bones, stern features, and bland complexions. Their prevailing physical sense is smell. Many love string instruments and prefer classical music with a tinge of sadness. They may eventually have problems with teeth, knees, ligaments, rheumatism, hardening of the arteries, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and deafness in the left ear. If the middle finger leans toward the ring finger, you have an individual with a strong need for privacy. The moment he feels confined, controlled, or restricted, he gets cranky and irritable. Notice the curved middle finger on Donald Rumsfeld’s left hand. Abraham Lincoln and Clint Eastwood are quintessential dominant middle-fingered types. Many conservative business people, technical individuals, craftsmen, writers, therapists, night watchmen, master criminals, morticians, undertakers, and derelicts have dominant middle fingers. Individuals with dominant first phalanges on the middle finger lead the way in research, science, mathematics, and humor.

Have a dominant middle-fingered boss? You’d better do your homework with a very sharp pencil. Precision and realism are required, don’t be late and don’t make excuses. Assume responsibility. If you’re pragmatic, reliable, and dependable, you’ll avoid criticism.

The middle finger is always the longest finger. Sometimes, however, it appears short relative to the index and ring fingers, which reveals a need for more structure, discipline, and focus. Harnessing these qualities is especially hard for these people. Healthy use of will power is essential.

The middle finger is the finger of fate. It’s where illusion (or delusion) and reality meet. No matter what else is going on in your hands, the middle finger forces you to face the facts and do whatever needs to be done. It always requires work on your part. There’s a remedy for most maladies and the middle finger is the first place to look for solutions to challenges. If you don’t do the work, it will show up in other ways in your hands. A grill (which I call schmutz), for example, is a bunch of lines crisscrossing in every direction under the middle finger. This is a sure sign of frustration resulting from not doing what needs to be done. People with schmutz below their middle finger are their own worst critics. They need to lighten up, buckle down, and bite the proverbial bullet. Accomplishing one little step at a time is the best remedy for being frustrated and overwhelmed, which will gradually reduce and eventually erase the grill. A truly healthy person will have a strong healthy middle finger.

If your dominant hand’s index finger appears long, (tip is more than halfway past the middle of the tip of the middle finger), projects forward, and has pink color beneath (all races), you’re a planner, goal setter, and natural leader. As an ambitious career minded professional, you’re attracted to go-getters like yourself, steering far away from strays and fixer-uppers. Anyone looking for a free ride or unable to carry his or her weight will quickly lose your respect.

Many dominant index fingered people are of medium height with generously proportioned bodies. They frequently have wide chests, high foreheads, widely spaced kind eyes, and round faces with wavy hair. These individuals enjoy being married and need a partner as much as a lover in a mate. Their relationship problems often result from obsessive or controlling behavioral patterns and judgmental, critical attitudes. False pride, gluttony, vanity, and bossiness are weaknesses that these individuals can overcome by practicing moderation and steadily earning success.

Although, long index fingered folk are naturally healthy types, they must be careful not to overindulge in rich food and drink. As their physical sense is taste, temptation is strong. They love rich exotic foods, luxurious desserts, and fine wine. If they don’t take good care of themselves, they’re prone to blood disorders, liver trouble, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and problems with hips, thighs, and throat. Many of the finest chefs have dominant index fingers (reflected in the length and thickness of the bottom phalange).

As previously discussed, proportions of individual phalanges, knots, and nails are important. With a spatulate fingertip there’s more individuality, unconventionality, and originality. A square tipped person is more practical and responsible. Round and conical tips are adaptable and intuitive. Every detail, including fingerprints, must to be taken into consideration.

Dermatoglyphics rarely change, unlike lines, which change as our thinking, and circumstances change. A careful examination of dermatoglyphics requires a quality set of hand-prints a magnifying glass, and a measuring device. Dermatoglyphics and timing are beyond the scope of this blog at the moment. If you’re interested in fingerprints, Richard Unger has devoted a large portion of his career as a hand analyst to finger prints. His book, LIFEPRINTS, is worth reading.

If your index finger is short (less than half way to the middle of the top phalange of the middle finger), you’ll have to work harder than the long index fingered person. Your major challenge is learning to value and ask enough for yourself. Too many short index fingered people received too little encouragement and support while growing up. Nonetheless, plenty of successful individuals have short index fingers. They earn every drop of whatever they achieve. Nothing comes easily. Scientific studies have related short index fingers to homosexuality, a claim I’ve refuted in a previous entry. See how my knowledge of index fingers transformed my family’s destiny.

The basic shape of your hands will determine whether you’re more intuitive, practical, thinking, or feeling. If you want to cultivate a dominant index fingered person, be honest and direct, show pride in your work, and take calculated risks. Many strong index fingered people become successful managers, journalists, judges, lawyers, politicians, singers (instrument is voice), producers, promoters, priests, chefs, speakers, and salespeople.

Once you’ve established a basic character type, it’s important to examine the fingers in detail to discover what kind of talents and careers a person is best suited for and how they manifest their potentials in the world around them. As previously discussed, the length of fingers is very important. The shape of the fingertip increases or decreases the strength of the finger it’s on. Two joints divide three phalanxes on each finger. The first phalanx or tip of the finger symbolizes how we think and adapt our thinking to changing circumstances. The middle phalanx represents our practical qualities and ability to take care of mundane tasks and responsibilities. The third or bottom phalanx describes our material and physical needs. Finger joints may be knotty (bulging) or smooth. Knots need order; no knots do not. Specifics will unfold as we examine each finger and character type.

Thick-fingered folk (especially the bottom / third phalange) have more desire for food and sensual pleasures. Thin-fingered people have more interest in nutrition and diet. I’ve seen very plump people with narrow third phalanges. Given an equal amount of will power, they have a much easier time losing weight than their thick-fingered cousins because the physical temptation for rich foods is much less strong. Jack Sprat will help you remember.

Jack Sprat could eat no fat Jack’s wife could eat no lean

His fingers were so leanHer fingers were obese

EvenwhenheldcloselytogetherEven when s p r e a d apart

floods of light passed in between lightcouldnotpassthroughacrease

About sweets a careShe could not resist any treat

Jack could not givefor Jack’s wife lived to eat

for Jack Sprat ate to live

If the consistency of your hands is hard and your fingers are stiff, you’ll battle change with every last molecule in your body. “Letting go” will be a major life theme for you. Making `good sense’ is essential. If the consistency of your hands is soft and your fingers are very flexible, you’ll conjure every rationalization in the book to procrastinate and not focus your energies. Needing “discipline and structure” will be a major life theme for you. Remain patient and create a framework that works for you.

NOTE: My next four blog entries will be about each of the four fingers. Details and importance of thumbs was discussed in a series of four previous blog entries.